5/5
Jay Bothroyd scoring against Spurs

It is not without irony that Tottenham's aspirations of a return to Champions League football appear increasingly dependant on a player whose finest form to date was not enough to avoid relegation to the Championship.

Scott Parker earned individual recognition as the Football Writers Association's Player of the Year courtesy of his heroically defiant attempt to keep West Ham in the Premier League yet fell short in his ultimate aim to maintain the club's top-flight status.

There were, of course, other contributing factors just as there will be that determine Spurs's fate this season but the 31-year-old's importance to the cause appears equally pivotal.

Manager Harry Redknapp's ability to consistently extract the best from Emmanuel Adebayor is likely to be a hugely significant aspect but while the Togo striker's movement was let down by a woeful afternoon in front of goal, Parker provided the solidity required to establish and then maintain a lead against Queens Park Rangers.

Parker snuffed out Rangers playmaker Adel Taarabt - who was consequently hauled off at half-time - and recycled possession quickly to generate the pace at which Tottenham attacked which at times threatened to overrun their newly-promoted opponents.

There is a striking balance to Spurs's midfield these days with Parker the perfect straight man to the more mercurial Luka Modric, while Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale feel more able to scamper forward knowing there is disciplined cover at hand.

"He is a fantastic player - last season he was phenomenal for West Ham," said Bale, whose side have only dropped two points since Parker arrived.

"This season, since he came to the club he has been unbelievable. What he does is let the likes of me, Lennon, Rafael van der Vaart, Modric and Emmanuel Adebayor do what we want."

And what they did was wreak havoc in a devastating first-half display that was denied emphatic reflection in the scoreline only by Adebayor's profligacy in front of goal.

Rangers, who paid Tottenham far too much respect and afforded them space to play with damaging consequences, rallied admirably after the break but Parker helped guide his team-mates through a nervous spell as those ahead of him created a stunning third to settle the contest.

Parker was afforded a standing ovation on his withdrawal four minutes from time as Sandro, a player who many believed would assume Tottenham's defensive midfield responsibilities, replaced him as a substitute - a role he may have to get used to despite returning from a calf injury.

"It is no coincidence at all that we have started playing well since Scott has been at the club," said Redknapp.

"He is a proper old-school player who loves playing, gets on with it and wants to win. He is a good person with a lovely family, comes in every day and works hard. That is what you need if you want be a successful team. Sandro is a top player, too, and I need to find a way of getting him into my side.

"But I said to the chairman I am not asking you to spend £20million on a player, Scott Parker is the one I want at this club and he will make the difference to this team.

"It was tough for the chairman. He looked at the whole thing, he was on a four-year deal at West Ham, there was no sell on, it is dead money, and I could understand where he was coming from.

"It was high wages by our standards so it was a difficult one but he backed me. I said, 'What he will give you on the pitch from now in the next four years is worth its weight in gold.' It has been proved.

"No disrespect to the chairman, he understands business but I understand football. He is a better player probably now than he was at West Ham.

"He had some great moves but only at West Ham did he become a big player and now he has taken it on."

Van der Vaart had already gone close and Adebayor missed an easy headed opportunity by the time Lennon fed Bale in a flowing move from right to left and the Welshman slammed a 20th-minute shot past Rangers goalkeeper Paddy Kenny.

Ledley King then scuffed an effort that deflected into Van der Vaart's path and the Dutchman's brilliant first touch enabled him to finish with class and composure to double the home side's advantage.

Rangers manager Neil Warnock responded with a change to 4-4-2 and the introduction of Jamie Mackie and Jay Bothroyd, who scored his first goal for the club since joining from Cardiff in the summer with a close-range header.

However, Bale settled things after manoeuvring the ball around Luke Young courtesy of successive one-two passes with Lennon, climaxing in a superb curling effort that ended a string of fine saves from Kenny.

"There are six good teams up there at the top," said Redknapp. "Manchester City are probably favourites now with Manchester United but the top four is wide open. I think there are six teams for four places."

Spurs have a presentable run of fixtures ahead of them (Fulham away, Aston Villa at home, West Brom away, Bolton at home) and a game in hand on Chelsea.

The chance is there to stake a serious early claim for Champions League football and Parker is at the heart of his club's destiny once again.